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Greens of Haddington, along with other health & safety professionals I am sure, have been banging the drum about how dangerous quad bikes and other sit-astride ATVS are and perhaps underestimating the hazards posed by side-by-side ATVS such as a John Deere Gator, Kubota RTV, Kawasaki Mule etc.
However, according to the latest HSE Note Summary of Fatal Injuries in Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing in Great Britain, on the year to March 2023, there were 3 people killed in accidents involving side-by-side ATVS compared to 1 person killed in an accident involving a quad bike.
If we go back to basics in relation to health &safety and risk management, RISK is defined as the calculation of the Likelihood of a harm taking place multiplied by the Consequences should that harm take place.
Therefore to reduce the risk, we need to look at reducing the likelihood and the consequences.
In relation to accidents involving all ATVs overturning, the likelihood of an accident can be reduced by managing one or all of the following factors
1. Appropriate formal training on both sit-astride ATVs and side-by-side ATVs
2. Appropriate speed for the ground conditions
3. Appropriate choice of route
4. Appropriate maintenance of the machine that can be demonstrated.
In relation to managing the consequences, the following are critical
1. Wearing of appropriate PPE (hard hat) when operating a sit-astride ATV
2. Wearing seatbelts when you are either operating, or as a passenger, of a side-by-side ATV
This rule about seatbelts should apply to all self-propelled farm or estate machinery including tractors.
It is well established that the safest place to be in the event of a machine overturning is in your seat within Roll Over Protection Structure (ROPS) or Safety Cab and that the only way to guarantee that you will remain in the seat is through the wearing of a seatbelt.
If you are operating or managing those that do operate these machines, please ensure that they are obeying the relevant rules.The accidents are summarised below:
Summary of Accidents involving Side-by-Side ATVs
• An 18-year-old member of the public was riding as a passenger in a side by side all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The machine rolled and he was thrown clear. He died from head injuries. No seat belt being worn.
• A 58-year-old self-employed farmer was found dead in a sloping field beneath a side-by-side ATV. He had been run over while checking a lamb.
• A 55-year-old employee was killed when travelling as a passenger in a side-by-side ATV with trailer. The ATV overturned.
Summary of Fatal Accident involving Sit-Astride ATV
• A 66-year-old self-employed farmer went to check sheep and was found beside an overturned quadbike on a hillside. No helmet was worn.
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